A case of pregnancy-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura with a kidney allograft recipient

Clin Transplant. 2010 Jul:24 Suppl 22:66-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2010.01272.x.

Abstract

A 32-yr-old female patient, who had been suffering from diffuse crescentic glomerulonephritis and a consequent end-stage renal disease, successfully underwent living-related ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation after a desensitization therapy including anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody. Forty-six months after the transplantation, the recipient became pregnant. At the 17th gestational week, the patient was admitted for the management of pregnancy-induced hypertension and aggressive deterioration of kidney graft function. At the 21st gestational week, the patient lost her kidney graft and was re-induced into regular hemodialysis. The patient was also suffering from progressive hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neurologic symptoms with decreased activity of von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, a disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motifs 13 (ADAMTS13). From these findings and a kidney allograft biopsy, the patient was diagnosed as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura concurrent with acute T-cell-mediated rejection. The patient immediately underwent plasma exchange as well as steroid pulse therapy. Despite these treatments, thrombocytopenia and intrauterine growth retardation progressed. The patient underwent a caesarian section at the 24th gestational week. Consequently, her platelet count recovered drastically. However, the patient lost her neonate five d after giving a birth, and the patient's graft function had never recovered.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • ABO Blood-Group System / immunology
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Graft Rejection / immunology
  • Humans
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / complications
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / therapy*
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Living Donors
  • Plasma Exchange
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic
  • Pulse Therapy, Drug
  • Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / etiology*
  • Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / pathology
  • Renal Dialysis
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Transplantation, Homologous

Substances

  • ABO Blood-Group System
  • Glucocorticoids